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March 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
Whale Sharks, Chocolate Hills & Underground Rivers: Honeymoon in the Philippines
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Evgenia Dobrovaauthor
The classic way to spend a honeymoon is, of course, a beach vacation abroad. The choices are endless, and we continue to share exciting destinations for your post-wedding getaway. This time, we're talking about the Philippines. It's one of the pricier destinations (due to flights), but for those wanting to spend their honeymoon in style — it's exactly what you need!
Relaxation, Tropical Fruits & Paradise Vibes
Photo: mangosteens
The Philippine Islands offer quality resort relaxation combined with active excursion tourism, the shallow Philippine Sea (part of the Pacific Ocean), small corals, and a beautiful underwater world. Catamarans, ferries, and small planes connect the islands.
Photo: Pan-Philippine Highway. San Juanico Bridge
The most famous island in the Philippines is Bohol. Its main attraction is a geological formation — the Chocolate Hills — about 1,500 low, rounded mounds that resemble giant truffle candies in shape and color. They turn brown when the grass growing on them burns under the sun.
Photo: Chocolate Hills \ Tatiana Svitneva
The second must-see is the Tarsier Sanctuary. The Philippine tarsier is a rare and shy animal, a tiny creature (6–8 inches) with huge eyes. Your guide will spot where they're hiding and point them out to you.
Photo: grumpy tarsier \ Tatiana Svitneva
Another local attraction is swimming with whale sharks. They're about 16–20 feet long and can open their mouths about 5 feet wide. They feed on small fish and plankton and aren't dangerous to humans — as long as you don't get close enough to be accidentally hit by their tail. For diving enthusiasts, Bohol has excellent dive centers.
Photo: swimming with sharks
Next up — a trip to Palawan, the island with the Puerto Princesa Underground River, near the city of the same name. This river flows through a natural karst tunnel formed from several caves that merged into one. You'll float on a boat in complete darkness so as not to disturb the bats, and only occasionally will your guide shine a flashlight on the most unique stalactites and stalagmites — and the bats themselves!
Photo: Palawan Island, entrance to the karst tunnel \ Tatiana Svitneva
Palawan has a private airport from which you can fly inexpensively to Miniloc Island — a unique spot that's perfect for swimming and exploring the underwater world.
Photo: coral reef inhabitants
Here you'll find huge tuna, over three feet long, swimming in schools and deftly avoiding people; many anemones and clownfish of various colors within easy reach. You can base yourself in Miniloc for a week — on one hand, it's a secluded paradise among the mountains, and on the other, the hotel will offer you a list of activities (caves, lagoons, sunset trips, sunrise excursions...), so you won't get bored.
Photo: clownfish
One of the highest-rated hotels on the island is El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island (from $600 per night for two). Replenish the energy spent on your honeymoon with desserts made from tropical fruits that grow here in abundance: dragon fruit, mango, lychee, passion fruit, mangosteen, and bananas.
Photo: El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island hotel
In October, the city of Bacolod on Negros Island hosts the Masskara Festival — a festival of smiles. The main feature of the celebration is that all participants wear either masks with smiles or have their faces painted. The history of this carnival dates back to the 1980s, when world sugar prices fell, affecting the sugarcane industry that Negros primarily depends on. Defying fate, the islanders decided to trade their frowns for smiles — to boost morale during the economic crisis.
Photo: Masskara Festival
Filipinos are generally big fans of carnivals. The most famous one is called Sinulog, which begins on the third Sunday of January and is dedicated to the Holy Child Jesus. The hot spot is Cebu City, though processions can be seen in other provinces as well. Before the carnival begins, a statue of the Holy Child is carried by boat around Mactan Peninsula, then brought in a solemn procession from the pier to the Basilica del Santo Niño. When planning your trip, keep in mind that carnivals attract many domestic tourists, so it's best to book hotels several months in advance.
Photo: Sinulog carnival
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Evgenia Dobrovaauthor